Vehicular movement on the city streets has apparently been left to its own device resulting in tedious tailbacks while the Dhaka Metropolitan Police is trying to figure out a fitting traffic management system for Dhaka.

Violation of conditions and the opposition's threat to forge movement to bring BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's sons Arafat Rahman Koko and Tarique Rahman back to the country apparently led to Koko's parole cancellation.

The country achieved a new record of electricity generation Friday as the evening shutdown of CNG stations boosted gas supply to power plants and a new rental power plant of a British company launched operation.

Investigator did not find any evidence of homicide in the case of deceased Awami League activist Ibrahim Ahmed even though Dhaka Medical College morgue mentioned the word "homicidal" in its autopsy report.

There was not enough security on August 21 as Sheikh Hasina deserved as the leader of the opposition, said Home Minister Sahara Khatun yesterday adding that the persons responsible should be made accountable for the loose security on that day.

In a rejoinder to our report headlined "20-storey building, Noor Ali admits to crime" published on August 6, Unique Group said the report based on different sources is not informative and is completely confusing.

The Committee to Protect Journalists, a New York-based rights body, requested the Supreme Court (SC) to review its judgment on journalists in Bangladesh, which sentenced them to jail and fines on charge of contempt of court.

Police arrested three leaders of Islami Chhatra Shibir of Chittagong University (CU) unit including its general secretary yesterday afternoon for their alleged involvement in injuring a Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activist on the campus.

There is "no credible evidence" Canadian-born Omar Khadr was tortured or even threatened after he was arrested in Afghanistan in 2002, wrote the military judge presiding his trial at the US Naval Base at Guantanamo, Cuba.

A news report says a former North Korean premier who was apparently sacked for proposing a wage system deemed too similar to US-style capitalism has returned to power after being demoted to being manager of a chemical plant.

Editorial

Six years after the carnage of 21 August 2004, the nation is yet to know the full, unadulterated truth behind the conspiracy which claimed the lives of 24 people and left more than 200 others severely wounded at a rally of the Awami League. Among the dead were the prominent AL politician Ivy Rahman. It was a tragedy which left the nation in a state of the deepest shock. It was expected that the government of the day, led by the BNP, would move swiftly and professionally to unmask those responsible for the grenade blasts. Unfortunately, nothing of the sort was done. What was done, as was clear at the time, was a despicable attempt to cover up the whole conspiracy through measures that left no one convinced the government was sincere in its actions.

We are alarmed at the news item that scientists have discovered high concentration of toxic chemicals like cadmium, lead and chromium in fertilisers that are being used by our farmers for better yield of agricultural produce. Zinc, cadmium and lead are basic ingredients for manufacturing batteries and tin but zinc fertiliser is being used in Bangladesh for the last three decades to save soil from sterility.

“We have been able to achieve only a part of what I had hoped with the team. Our performance has been up and down in the time I have been at the helm. After the tour of Europe last year, our performance graph went up, but then it again came down. I hope it will go up once again after the tour this time.”

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Saturday conceded that the no-ball controversy in the last Micromax Cup tri-series match against Sri Lanka has turned his players into a more aggressive lot but the team will take care not to cross the line.

The city's traffic has grown increasingly crowded and chaotic for more than a decade, and is a disaster even by the standards of less developed countries (LDCs). Productivity is suffering, as workers with once-short commuting distances now make glacial progress in gridlocked daytime traffic that averages barely five miles an hour. Crowded into dilapidated, steamy, fume-belching private buses, they arrive to work tired, perspiring, short of breath and tainted by dust. Those with cars inch along, tapping their horns their cell phone out and A/C blasting, getting atrocious fuel efficiency. Three-wheeled taxis sometimes jump ahead, but the breezes are short-lived and no healthier. Densities of air pollution reach more than six times those considered “highly polluted” by the World Health Organisation.

Japanese Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda said on Friday his ministry is communicating with other Group of Seven countries on currencies amid growing concern the strong yen will further dent Japan's export-reliant economy.

India's gold merchants are expecting a sustained pick-up in sales for the second round of festivals, as a reviving economy and stable prices may aid sentiment, triggering a reversal in declining trend in imports.

US regulators on Friday seized notable Chicago-based community development bank ShoreBank after Wall Street backers failed to rescue the institution, and its deposits will be taken over by a newly chartered bank.

Billionaire financier George Soros has bought a 4 percent holding in Bombay Stock Exchange for about $35 million, two sources with direct knowledge of the deal told Reuters on Friday, valuing the bourse at around $875 million.

International MarketsMajor G10 currencies more or less range bound this week. The dollar edged up against the yen on Thursday with investors reluctant to chase the yen higher as they waited to see if the Bank of Japan or the government will take new steps to rein in the yen's rise. Earlier, rumours had circulated in the market that the BOJ would hold an emergency policy meeting at 2 p.m. That followed a media report that the central bank had started considering additional monetary easing steps. The dollar briefly pared its gains against the yen after sources familiar with the matter said the Bank of Japan is highly unlikely to hold an emergency meeting on Thursday. But the dollar remained firm against the yen due to short-covering, traders said. Investors are watching to see if the Japanese central bank or the government will take new steps to rein in the yen's export-sapping rise ahead of a meeting between Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa expected next Monday. The Sankei newspaper said on Thursday that the BOJ has started considering additional monetary easing steps in line with government efforts to support the country's economy. The most likely option under consideration is expanding the BOJ's fund-supply tool put in place in December, the Sankei said without citing sources.

Metropolitan

Bangladesh will face severe water crisis within next couple of decades due to random contamination of surface and ground water, absence of comprehensive water sharing with neighbouring countries and mismanagement in preserving rain water.

Terming the month of August a period of 'sorrow and pain' in the country's history, speakers at a roundtable yesterday said there was a certain link between the August 15, 1975 and August 21, 2005 carnage aimed to undermine the forces that had brought the nation independence in 1971.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday said the perpetrators of the August 21 grenade attack on the Awami League rally will face the trial as soon as possible as the nation is eargerly waiting for it.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Awami League and its different wings and victims of the August 21 grenade attack pay respect to the dead in the incident placing wreaths at a memorial at Bangabandhu Avenue in the city yesterday. President Zillur Rahman held a milad mahfil at Bangabhaban.

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), student wing of BNP, yesterday announced countrywide rallies and processions today to protest the government decision to cancel the parole of Arafat Rahman Koko, youngest son of the party chairperson Khaleda Zia.

A national committee is expected to finalise a list of some 100 foreigners to be honoured on the 40th independence anniversary next year for their remarkable contribution to the 1971, independence of Bangladesh.

Bangalee Shamagra Museum (BSM) has taken a research initiative to commemorate Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's 35th death anniversary, titled 'Speeches of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the East Pakistan Provincial Assembly and Pakistan National Assembly (1954-1958)', says a press release.

National

Farmers have started reaping pariza, a newly developed paddy suitable for cultivation in between boro and aman crops, as different areas of northern region sees successful cultivation of the early yielding variety.

Much-talked flood control and irrigation scheme styled 'Upper Surma-Kushiyara project' in Sylhet sees only 35 per cent of work done in nine years although it was scheduled to complete by 2005-2006 fiscal year (FY).

Sadullapur police yesterday recovered the body of a female NGO worker from a canal at village Baro Chatragacha and sent it to Gaibandha hospital for autopsy. The victim was identified as Anjona Rani Madol, 35, a field worker of Association for Social Advancement (ASA) Bakshiganj Bazaar branch under Sadullapur upazila. ASA Gaibandha district manager Ashraful Islam said Anjona Rani went out to collect dues from the debtors on Thursday but she did not return to office with the collected money. Finding no trace of the missing worker he later filed a general diary with Sadullapur police station. Anjona Rani, mother of a child, was kidnapped and killed for Tk 13,000 and later dumped into the canal, said Hasan Inam, OC Sadullapur after primary investigation. Police arrested one Zafar in connection with the murder.

A college teacher, arrested on Thursday for his indecent remarks on the Father of the Nation at a meeting on August 15, was suspended by the college yesterday. Accused Asadullah Al Galib, son of AKM Abdul Wahed of Bakal area in the town, is a teacher of management department of Safurunnesa Mahila College. He made the remark at a discussion on the National Mourning Day held at the college auditorium with principal Ashrafunnahar in the chair. In his speech, Galib allegedly said that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was gunned down for his sin. I will never recognise him as the Father of the Nation, he added. He was later arrested following a sedition case against him.

A young man and a child were electrocuted in separate incidents yesterday at Hingerpara village under Harinakundo upazila and at Collegepara under Kaliganj upazila. The deceased were identified as Akkas Ali, 28, son of Cheton Joarder of Hingerpara village and Tabibur Rahman, 4, son of Rabiul Islam of Collegepara. Officer-in-charge (OC) Jahangir Alam of Harinakundo police station said, Jahangir came in contact with an electric wire while he was removing it from his yard. According to Kaliganj police, Tabibur was electrocuted when he touched a multi plug at his house.

Police rescued a woman while being kidnapped by a gang led by her former husband from Dumurkhali Bazar area in Manirampur upazila under Jessore district at dead of night on Thursday. Police also arrested two people with a private car from the spot. Rescued Rikta Khatun, 20, is daughter of Motaleb Hossain of village Shuvankarkati in Kalaroa upazila. The arrestees are Abdul Ahad, 32, son of Abbas Ali of village Khalsi and driver Biplob, 20, son of Eman Ali of village Shankarpur in Jhikargachha upazila in Jessore district. Quoting locals police said, Rikta was married to Anisur Rahman of Jhikargachha upazila about a year ago. As Rikta's parents failed to pay dowry, Anisur divorced her. On Thursday night Anisur along with a gang of criminals tried to pick up Rikta forcibly on a private car. On suspicion, neighbours stopped the car and rescued the victim and held two abductors while Anisur fled the scene.

Rab members after a gunfight arrested two injured criminals from in front of Maya Hotel at Tongi Bazar on Friday night. The arrestees were identified as Rony, 25, and Sayed, 27. Acting on a tip-off, members of Rab-1 in plainclothes conducted a drive in the area at about 9pm when a gang of arms peddlers were preparing to sell arms to another gang. Sensing presence of law enforcers the gang opened fire on Rab forcing the elite force to fire back that left the two injured. Rab also recovered one foreign made revolver and six bullets from their possession.

Letters

Pollution affects plants and organisms living in water. Although water has been identified on several planets, none has as much water as Earth, of which 70 percent is covered with water. Approximately 97.4 percent of the water on Earth is found in oceans and is too salty for human consumption. An additional 2.6 percent is freshwater found in underground bodies of water called aquifers or frozen in glaciers or polar ice caps. Less than 0.02 percent of Earth's water is present in lakes, rivers, or the atmosphere. The water itself provides the environment for fish, plants and animals. There are several sources of water pollution which work together to reduce overall river water quality. Industries and agriculture discharge liquid waste products. Rain as it falls through the air, or drains from urban areas and farmland, absorb contaminants.

Bengalees are famous for their hospitality. Hospitality is the indicator of aristocracy and nobility. Betel leaf is part of that hospitality. In some cases, without this attachment the satisfaction of consumption often remains incomplete. Moreover, people also entertain the guests only with 'khili paan' which is known as 'entertaining in brief' in rural areas. Not only in the rural areas but also after the ending of sumptuous session in urban areas the application of betel leaf is worth mentioning. The enthusiasts of betel leaf use not only the traditional betel nut but also many spicy ingredients in taking betel leaf.

The government hurriedly enacted the Detailed Area Plan for greater Dhaka City; when already considerable damage had been inflicted on the environmental conditions. Billions of taka had already been invested by the land and building developers over the decades. Thus the market condition has been changed; and there would be a migratory tendency from the affected areas; and the pricing conditions would mark sharp rise and fall.

The prime minister as head of the government seems to retain the exclusive right or absolute power to choose her cabinet colleagues and the state ministers to run the state, of course in a better, if not best, way and so did our PM Sheikh Hasina. She inducted new faces, and there was not an iota of doubt about her sincerity that her first and foremost concern was how the well being of the people through good governance could be ensured. But it was and is still generally believed that the novices who had never walked down near the corridor of ministerial realm and were even unaware of the A B Cs of ministerial stints could hardly be able to steer the nation, bursting with sea of problems, to fulfil Sheikh Hasina's 'great expectation'. The old guards of her party have been left out in the cold for, people guess, Sheikh Hasina while behind the bar, smelt a rat in the activities of the party stalwarts that were purported to be the machinations to minus her. It is true they had caved in to the invisible threats, but they are still obsequiously loyal to her and depriving them of cabinet berth was not a good omen as observed by the countrymen. Political acumen and experience with sagacity and maturity and above all wit and diplomacy with eloquence are the prerequisites for one to hold the reins of the statecraft. The persons chosen to head our Home and Foreign Affairs direly lack the above and their performance as of today in no way goes to give them any kudos. Law and order remains as worse as ever.

When we're kids we make a lot of friends whether they are friends at parties or school friends, but we all make friends. This is a lot easier when we are young. As we get older this is harder. But we still make friends!

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was defending the Obama administration's record and his comments on the so-called professional left. On a range of issues including accountability for torture, detention of terrorism suspects, and use of lethal force against civilians, there is a very real danger that the Obama administration will enshrine permanently within the law policies and practices that were widely considered extreme and unlawful during the Bush administration. And, in fact, in some cases, you see this administration going even further than the last administration did. Some of what was going on under the last administration was going on in spite of federal law that prohibited it. That was true, for example, with the warrant-less wiretapping programme. And then Congress authorized the warrant-less wiretapping that President Bush had authorized in violation of statute. So now you have a statute that authorizes precisely what President Bush was doing illegally between 2001 and 2006. But what we had hoped was that the constitutionality of that statute would be tested in the courts.

There was a Paradise where Adam and Eve were living in peace and harmony. There was abundance and plenty of everything, there was no scarcity, water was as good as pure honey, air was pristine, no poisonous chemicals in food, people could sleep at night with their doors open, children had vast open fields to play games after school and so on.

One of the major indicators of development or industrialization of any nation is the level of her per capita commercial energy use. The three most important commercial energy used in present world are natural gas, oil and coal. Natural gas is Bangladesh's only significant source of commercial energy, with 2002 production of 384.9 billion cubic feet (bcf). Bangladeshi natural gas production began in 1960 from the Chattak field. There is much uncertainty and debate about the level of natural gas reserves in Bangladesh. Estimates from Petrobangla put net proven reserves at 15.3 tcf as of mid-2004. The US Geological Survey has estimated that Bangladesh contains an additional 32.1 tcf in additional "undiscovered reserves.

The disadvantage of being one of the LDCs is that no one cares if you exist or not. During COP (Conference of Parties) 15 that took place in Copenhagen last year, the following was supposed to happen: 1) Developed countries would take responsibility for their actions and compensate accordingly. 2) The Most Vulnerable Countries (MVCs) would get enough financial and technical support to enhance and develop their adaptation processes, 3) A legally binding accord would be created which would limit the carbon emission amount for the developed countries and the G77+China group, 4) The accord would also ensure that the MVCs would get continuous support in the future to battle the climate change impacts. Unfortunately, we all know what really happened, very disappointing indeed but that is the current reality. Bangladesh, for example, is ground zero for a Global Warming induced calamity. Funding is necessary for Bangladesh to tackle the adverse climate change effects; necessary embankment building, infrastructure development, and a lot of researches need to be done. It is forecast that a 1m sea level rise will inundate one third of the land in Bangladesh! The entire Sundarbans will be underwater! If developed countries do not provide these funds, Bangladesh will face frightening consequences. Among the most startling are agricultural devastation, deterioration of health and increasing number of deadly diseases, millions of climate refugees, economic downfall, and even national security issues. Imagine a situation where millions of people lose everything they own and are forced to move towards the cities for a better life. These people are farmers or fishermen; skills which are useless in urban settings. Would these people become beggars or muggers? If even 1% of those millions of helpless people decide to commit crimes, imagine the effects!

I totally agree with Humayun Hyder that if we use the public transport, it will be better in all respects. But I will also like to remind my brother of the condition of public transport. The condition is so bad that one cannot travel by public transport. Of course, people are economically weak and they need to travel by local bus, yet this does not mean that they will travel like non-humans. Perhaps this is the reason why poor people are affected by air borne diseases and the problem is not just with public transport, the public hospitals are in deteriorating condition as well. But still the solution lies in improving public transport maintaining the security of the passengers and their assets.

While the BNP has alleged through their senior leader Mr M.K. Anwar, that 1.75 percent interest rate for the $1 billion loan and 20 years repayment period which includes grace period of 5 [five Years] from India is very high, but in reality facts and findings about loans taken by different governments including that of the BNP for projects show that this interest rate is not high but in fact lowest so far taken on these grounds from different governments which includes Japan, China, Korea and even the USA and the UK. I am not going to dissect the deals and the agreements signed but trying to pass my concern that the view that Mr Anwar has expressed is just another of BNP”s so called bluff & Anti India stunt on which they do stand & do politics.

The authorities introduced the system of keeping the factories closed on different days in different areas for electricity load management. We had been maintaining it. But in recent days we have been observing that following this system is not bringing solution to improvement of electric load shedding.

Recent statistics show that the number of students opting for science studies is declining. Many believe the opportunity for career development is much better for a student studying Business. Whether this assumption is true or not, it is definitely true that more and more meritorious students are moving away from science studies.

Residents of a southern Pakistani town fled rising floodwaters yesterday, a stark reminder the country could face more destruction in a crisis that has raised questions about the government's stability.

A political party backed by Myanmar's ruling junta opened offices across the country Friday months after the main opposition group was forced to close theirs as preparations begin for a general election in November.

Israel and the Palestinians accepted on Friday an invitation by the United States and other powers to restart direct talks on September 2 in a modest step toward forging a deal within 12 months to create a Palestinian state and peacefully end one of the world's most intractable conflicts.

Heavy rains sparked serious flooding along the China-North Korea border Saturday, with more than 50,000 Chinese evacuated and Pyongyang's state media warning of "devastating" consequences in the North.

China has seized more than 100 tons of melamine-contaminated milk powder in its northern provinces, state media reported late Friday, the latest case of food safety problems in the world's most populous country.

Arts & Entertainment

As part of their solemn tribute to eminent singer Nilufar Yasmin, Bengal Foundation launched a book of reminiscences titled “Kanthashilpi Nilufar Yasmin” and a video documentary “Shurer Swajan” at Bengal Café, Dhanmondi, in the city on August 20.

Galleri Kaya will organise a solo painting exhibition of Murtaja Baseer starting from September 25 to continue till October 10. The exhibition will be dedicated to his parents' 100th marriage anniversary.

Film music has come a long way since its introduction in the early 1930s. Its impact on films has been so profound -- albeit only for the songs --- that the music director is a star, second only to the lead players.

OP-ED

Every country, developing or developed, carries out administrative reforms intermittently or regularly to make its administrative system efficient, responsive and dynamic to the changing needs and aspirations of the citizens.

Within a span of a few hours on July 26, two groups of university students, one at Chittagong University and the other in Dhaka's Mohakhali, took to the streets on the same issue, the hike of student fees. The untoward incidents were also repeated the following day.

Comprehensive Disaster Management Project (CDMP) is a UNDP-led project of the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management, with financing from DFID, EC, SIDA and UNDP. CDMP-I, costing Tk.172.53 crore was completed in 2009. CDMP-II, estimated at Tk.507 crore, has already started, the inception seminar being held in April.

Why be predictable? Let's think of some new ideas for films Thanks for the great comments -- I really had to laugh at the cheeky story of Angela and the mysterious stranger following in his car. Angela, you are one brave mother. Can't wait for the follow-ups.